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Fingers pointing over ethanol-rich E85 fuel

If you're looking to pay less for gasoline in 2014, there is an alternative. But you may want to do your homework before signing the dotted line.

by Chris Woodward

December 30, 2013

Source: One News Now

The national average for E85 gasoline was $2.84 going into the final weekend of December.

E85 is 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. While it's intended only for certain vehicles, proponents say it's a win-win for consumers and the country when you factor in things like price and less oil consumption.

Still, Sterling Burnett with the National Center for Policy Analysis says people are not "reaping savings" from the fuel.

"In fact, even with E10, you're losing about a quarter of your fuel economy," advises Burnett. "So if you go to E85, you're losing even more."

If you do want to go ahead and buy a vehicle that can use E85 gas, finding a station that sells E85 may be difficult, depending on where you live in the U.S.

Meanwhile, The Associated Press reported in the fall of 2013 that ethanol was actually detrimental to the environment.

Bipartisan legislation has also been introduced to eliminate the corn ethanol mandate.

Ethanol groups denounced the AP's investigation as well as the ethanol mandate legislation.